No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1033 | Ed and Wayne react to United's 2-0 opening-day defeat at Hull.

United's poor performance breaks down into three causes: a tactical selection that didn't suit the game, a fitness gap after a staggered pre-season, and basic failure to finish chances or clear the two set pieces Hull scored from.

Then there are the players. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw remain trusted by Carrick but is their time in the team now coming to a natural end?

A wider structural problem persists too; every forward likes to tuck inside, leaving nobody offering width except from full-back, which is a problem too.

Then there's the tendency, called out by Bruno Fernandes, for United to play vertically when Carrick is building a side for possession.

Marcus Rashford, who set up United's best chance off the bench, gets a long section of debate.

Ipswich at Old Trafford is up next.

0:00 Introduction: Hull defeat and the overreaction
2:15 Analysing the defeat
7:15 Set pieces and preparation
11:25 System evolution
16:50 Maguire and Shaw
24:30 Individual performances
37:50 Rashford debate
53:45 Looking ahead

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#1032 | Ed and Dharnish preview the season with a focus on how United’s tactics are evolving under Michael Carrick. The pattern in pre-season has been more possession, more central possession, and an emphasis on third-man runs.

Where Carlos Baleba fits is still unclear: he's more carrier than passer, so the assumption is someone else, Kobbie Mainoo or Youri Tielemans, drops in to start moves while Baleba operates further forward.

The bigger worry is pressing. Pushing fullbacks and forwards higher creates gaps between midfield and defence, and neither Bruno Fernandes nor Marcus Rashford presses well enough to close them, though Baleba's mobility should help cover the space.

Up front, the squad is deep enough that losing Benjamin Sesko to injury or rotation shouldn't be a big problem, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and a returning Rashford all able to play through the middle.

0:00 Introduction and season preview

1:26 What's on the show today

2:20 More possession and central progression

4:12 Third man runs

5:52 Midfield pairings and where Baleba fits

10:01 Fullbacks in the build-up

13:40 Left-back transfer targets

15:06 The pressing question

21:17 Defensive transitions

23:45 The attack and Rashford's return

28:54 Transfer rumours

29:10 Wrap-up and season hopes

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#1031 | Ed and Adam talk about United's move for Carlos Baleba, a deal likely to land in excess of £65 million. It’s the right profile for United, even if Baleba’s poor season last year presents a risk. He's a front-foot, ground-covering midfielder that should combine well with United’s other midfielders and solve some specific problems.

The deal takes United's spend on midfielders this summer to around £150 million across Tielemans, Santos and Baleba. It’s a strong midfield rebuild even if United are still a bit short elsewhere. Left-back remains the outstanding piece of business before the window closes.

The pod closes with a preview of Hull away this weekend as United look for a strong start to the new season.

0:00 Introduction

1:42 Baleba: role and player profile

6:19 Midfield pairings

11:10 Pressing, transitions and defensive cover

12:55 Left-back hunt

15:04 Deal timing and transfer strategy

21:54 Rating the midfield rebuild

31:46 Zirkzee and Rashford: squad business

36:07 Hull preview and Championship finances

45:30 Predicted line-up and sign-off

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#1030 | Ed and Wayne are back for the season preview after a mixed pre-season: two wins from six and a 4-2 defeat to Milan in the last match. Neither is panicking about that result specifically, but it exposed problems that were already there. The defence is the biggest concern. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire remain first choice and neither has the legs for a higher, more front-foot approach, while Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt can't be relied on for fitness. Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have the potential to solve those problems but it’s a big ask for two young players.

There’s a different problem in midfield: plenty of technical quality in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, not enough physicality to handle the games that get scrappy.

United need two more signings before deadline day, a genuine upgrade at left-back and a proper ball-winner in midfield, to have a real shot at matching last season's third-place finish. Without them, expect some regression with a much busier schedule.

They finish with a run through the rest of the league: Arsenal have strengthened again, Liverpool are an interesting watch under Iraola with the Bezos ownership question in the background, Spurs have spent big, and nobody fancies predicting what Chelsea will do.

0:00 Six games, one freak-out
1:50 A disjointed pre-season
9:44 Shaw and Maguire: the defensive issue
15:09 Carrick's tactical direction
17:33 Midfield's missing ball-winner
27:28 Lacey: keep or loan?
34:33 Dorgu, Sesko and Zirkzee
40:31 What United need before deadline day
51:17 Rivals: Arsenal
54:07 Rivals: City after Guardiola
1:00:06 Rivals: Liverpool and Iraola's scalability
1:04:04 Bezos, Liverpool and the TV deal
1:11:37 Rivals: Spurs
1:14:23 Rivals: Newcastle
1:15:53 Rivals: Chelsea
1:18:00 Wrap-up

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#1029 | A manager out, a manager in, and a word the club would very much like everyone to start using? Ed talks to Andy Slater of the Barmy Article fanzine about Marc Skinner's exit and Eva Olid's arrival at United Women.

What's Skinner's legacy after 5 years? A first major trophy in the 2024 FA Cup, four cup finals and a Champions League quarter-final, all on roughly the fourth biggest budget in the league. Also plan A football with no plan B, and a personality that split the fanbase down the middle.

Olid arrives with just four weeks until kick-off, fresh from a first-ever SWPL title at Hearts. Catalan coaching philosophy, five years in Scotland, and a record of developing young players on a small budget. A strong profile, or a job description written by United's finance department?

Then to the summer market. Melvine Malard to Chelsea for a club-record fee, Galton, Turner, Blundell, Naalsund and George all gone, Medina and Leitzig in. The club's briefing is sustainability.

Finally the academy, where Layla Drury, Jessica Anderson and Scarlett Hill have all signed professional terms. United start the season away at London City Lionesses on 4 September, with Mary Earps in goal.

00:00 Introduction

01:49 Revisiting the Skinner Era

04:56 Recruitment and Budget

08:41 Eva Olid: United's New Manager

11:44 Departures and Transfer Window

17:08 Sustainable Strategy

22:15 Academy and Youth Players

26:44 Season Expectations

30:46 Opening WSL Game vs London City

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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